Lovin’ your NE-500 Syringe Pump OEM

I thought I would put together a few words about NE-500 pumps and it’s cousins the NE-4500, and the variations of this pump that are available.

These pumps are intended for OEM applications, that is to be built into newly designed equipment, and operated by software control only. They have no front panel display and no keypad, so you must use software to operate the pumps. SyringePumpPro will do that for you.

Lately it would seem that more of these pumps are finding their way onto bench tops, simply because of their incredible low cost and in combination with SyringePumpPro they are cheaper than the equivalent NE-1000 and other models. But you do need to budget for software to operate them.

The trick is to remember that fresh from the factory, they are pre-configured for Address 0 and 19200 baud RS232 connections. This default configuration makes the pumps easy to connect. I recommend not changing the baud rate – or at least if you do – document that you have changed the baud rate. It’s no fun trying to connect to a pump set to an unknown baud rate. Put a sticky label on the pump and write baud rate and address changes on it.

However, if your pumps have served a previous master (I am thinking here especially in school labs), they may have been configured to other addresses and other baud rates and you may have a little difficulty getting communications going. (I can help you with that – contact me!) Tip Connect the pump to your computer on it’s own and let SyringePumpPro find it for you.

NE-1000 vs NE-500

I often am asked can I purchase and NE-500 and use it on the laboratory bench in place of the more expensive NE-1000. My answer would be yes but there’s a couple of things for you to consider.

You will need a copy of SyringePumpPro to enter commands, and control the pump generally.

Whilst the open chassis is quite safe – the circuits run on 12V or in rare cases 24V, you must consider the possibility of your fluids entering the insides of the pump – they are completely exposed. It’s my understanding that the circuit board is not available as a user replaceable part.

You must also make sure that none of your lab tools, fixtures and fittings are able to enter the underside of the pump.

There are exposed moving parts and a risk of pinching that could really be at the least painful and depending on what piece of you get’s pinched and what model pump you have. Long hair inside the pump motor/pulley system would be quite a problem especially if it’s still attached to your head and perhaps worse depending on whats in your syringe and plumbing. Is that a realistic issue – possibly not.

The NE-500 Family Comes in Several Variations

There are several variations of the base model idicated by their addtional features compared to the base model.

L models – long chassis

High pressure models

Stall detection

Linear flows and larger program capacity – via a firmware update.

All of which means you can get a number of versions of this handy pump. There is also the closely related NE-4500 series which really is only a 2 syringe version of the NE-500.

A pdf containing a CAD drawing of the NE-5xxL OEM 140ml Syringe Pump chassis, showing the dimensions of the device. Very useful for those who are designing enclosures or apparatus layouts. Wide Chassis

As the author of SyringePumpPro products I have been involved with laboratory pumps for about 10 years now.My career spans electronics, avionics, programming, teaching, research and development laboratory experience, and even television.